Chair of the Board
Russell Williams
Russell has been a member of Ipswich - East Suffolk (IES) Hockey Club in Suffolk for the last decade. He is a Level 1 umpire. He has been Vice-Chair, and a team captain (and many other roles) during his time at IES. Prior to joining IES he was a member of Ipswich Hockey Club for over 15 years – including a period as Chair when both the men’s and women’s first teams were playing at National League level.
Professionally, Russell was Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council from 2009 to 2023. He now works in Cromer at North Norfolk District Council. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is an experienced company director – including being a former independent director of the University of Suffolk (including chairing its Audit and Governance Committee for about 9 years).
Operations Director
Judith Masters
My career has been in secondary state education until retirement in 2018, starting as a classroom teacher for modern languages and ending as vice principal of a sixth form college. During this time I spent six years working for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, taking on a national role of designing, developing and delivering bespoke training programmes and conferences for schools and Local Authorities. Managing training budgets, reporting to the Department of Education and working with other national bodies such as examination boards, universities, The Arts Council and The Prince’s Trust gave me a wide range of business experiences and people management skills which I believe will be useful to East Hockey Limited. Additionally, at management level in schools and college I was accountable for examination results, responsible for budgets, line-managing teams and liaising with many outside agencies. I feel that I bring skills of negotiation, communication, dependability and support to the new structure of East Hockey Limited.
I have played hockey since the age of ten, representing my school, university, club, region and country over the years. I currently play at Harleston Magpies where I captain the ladies 7th team; previously I played at East Coast Hockey Club (Lowestoft Ladies) for thirty-two years where I think I took on every club role at some point! I currently play Masters hockey for the East over 65s and for England over 65s. Although I am involved in other sports, hockey has been the constant throughout my life, providing many fantastic memories and great friendships.
Governance Director
Nik Bentley
Current Roles
- Head of Finance at Dixons Carphone
- Chairman of Hertford HC
- Club Development Officer
- Lead Coach @ AC and East Masters
- MH1 and Fortitude Contracted Coach
Achievements
- I don't single them out, everything you achieve regardless of the size is an achievement. They are all important. If I was to highlight specifics it would be
- Delivery of Transformation Projects at Dixons Carphone - Process Improvement and Simplification.
- Delivery of the Sale of BUPA Hospitals
Clubs
- Lewes
- Richmond
- Hertford
Goal and Aspirations
- Ensure strong governance across the region at all levels
- Introduce good practice across the region, through discussions with clubs and sub areas
- Improve the Hockey experience across the East Area
Finance Director
Emily Radcliffe
I retired 3 years ago having had two careers. Firstly, as a consulting Engineer and Secondly as a Head of Maths in a large Comprehensive.
I have been involved with hockey both playing, umpiring, selecting, administration and coaching for over 40 years. I have played for a full range of teams from English Universities and Cambridge City 1, to the development team at my local club, Ely City HC. I am a level 2 coach and am currently enjoying coaching the U12s at Ely. As a level 1 umpire I help out with umpiring the lower club teams on a Saturday.
On retirement I took over as Treasurer of ERHA and have recently been part of the East Transition committee.
I still manage to play occasionally, injuries permitting, for club, Cambs. Masters and East Masters.
Adult Leagues and Competitions Chair
Rosemary Prince
A little about Rosemary:
From picking up my first hockey stick as an 11 year old, hockey became my sport of choice. Starting in my school team I went on to play county junior and senior representative hockey and now find myself enjoying East Masters hockey at tournaments in addition to playing regularly at club level.
Initially training as a PE teacher I have changed clubs with work promotions and moves over the years. Currently I am employed as Director of Education at a large academy trust. Where I have played my club hockey I have always contributed to the administration of the club and over the years have for instance run a junior section, sorted the fixtures and acted as club secretary. I have always felt it was important to give back to the sport that has given me great enjoyment over the course of 50 years.
In 2011 I took up the Chair position of the current East League committee having been a league manager previously on this committee and the predecessor East Ladies league. I am immensely proud of the collective way the current committee works being open to the scrutiny of our membership. Fairness, openness and transparency in decision making are important to me.
I am excited by the changes happening to bring greater national coherence to the way our sport is managed. I wish to ensure the East committee promotes a culture of being there to serve the membership. At present this covers around 5000 hockey players every week in season, seeking to play great matches at the level that brings them challenge. Disputes happen and it is important they are dealt with in a fair and impartial manner. Equally the committee needs to ensure success is celebrated.
Junior Competitions and Leagues Chair
Sally Tippen
I have been involved in the East Junior competitions committee since 2000 when I joined as a Cambridgeshire representative and took over as Chair in 2016. I have represented East on the Player Pathway Strategy group since 2017 and have been part of the Governance and Junior Competitions transition groups this year. I served as President of the East from 2017-2019 and Deputy President for the preceding 2 years. I am currently acting Chair of Cambridgeshire Hockey and also Treasurer.
I still play hockey for Cambridge City and have played international Masters for the last 9 years. I umpire for my club and sometimes in the Cambridgeshire pool.
Officiating Chair
Nick Meakin
After obtaining a BSc in Polymer Chemistry Nick commenced his career in the automotive sector with Michelin, he then moved into the food sector joining Heinz. He left Heinz for his first board position with Burtons (bakery ingredients) part of the Borthwick Group, moving to Unilever when the business was sold to them. He then moved into aviation as General Manager of SAS in the UK running the airline and inflight catering operations. His next position was with the Hazlewood Group running factories supplying Tesco. Two years later he was asked to join the multi-national EWOS aquaculture group as COO a position he held for 6 years. He then spent 7 years in an executive board role with Britannia Pharmaceuticals prior to establishing Aqualution in 2009 and have been the CEO ever since.
Through my career I have held non-executive director roles in three other companies.
Other non-executive positions and voluntary sporting activities have included Chairing the (government funded) National Equine Database organisation, owned by the British Equestrian Federation from 2011 to 2013, having been a board member responsible for all commercial activity and finance from 2008 to 2013.
I was chair of ERHUA for the three years prior to the creation of East Hockey Limited, having been a committee member between 1993 and 1997.
I am chair of Copdock and Old Ipswichian Cricket club (5 mens teams, 3 ladies and over 300 junior members with the 1st team playing at the highest level of club cricket in England) and am a level 2 ECB coach.
I also am chair of trustees of the charity that owns and manages all of the recreation facilities in the village with over £3m of assets (sports pitches, buildings and facilities).
I played first team hockey from the age of 16 to 33 at premier league level, including playing in the first division (there were only two divisions back then) of the first season of the national league.
I started umpiring as soon as I stopped playing and was appointed to the national league panel three years later.
Due to work and family commitments I had a 15 year break from hockey but came back into the fold in 2012 and am back on the national league panel as well as being a regional level umpire assessor and county coach.
Masters Chair
Kim Hansen
Prior to the creation of East Hockey Limited I held the position of Chair of the East Masters’ Committee and was the lead on the East Masters’ Transition Working Group. I first picked up a hockey stick over 50 years ago and since that time have played and/or administered at most levels of hockey from Schoolboy and Senior County, through Club (incl. National League) to representing the East and England National Masters’ squads from O50’s age band up to O60’s. I was honoured to captain the England Masters team at O55 and O60 age levels and was delighted to lead an extremely talented and dedicated squad that gained both European and World titles over a number of years. I still play Masters’ hockey but having need of a new hip in 2017, I fear my representative years may be behind me now.
I became a Level 1 coach when my children were young and subsequently coached and captained a Club Academy team for 5 years.
On the administration front I have a good number of years practical experience having been a Club Captain, Chairman and President at Club level (not all at the same time!). My East and England roles allowed me the opportunity to get involved in the management side of the running of both Regional and National squads preparing for and competing in tournaments both at home and abroad, being fortunate enough for me to play and tour throughout Europe, SE Asia and Australia.
Leading the East Masters’ Committee and the East Masters’ Transition Working Group has given me a greater insight into the many different ideas and experiences available to us to enhance the masters’ product we currently offer to our varied participants, be they players, coaches, officials or administrators.
Having qualified as an accountant in the audit profession I then moved into the Insurance Industry taking up various positions over 25 years that I worked for the same company. I have been retired for over 10 years now and this has allowed me the time and space to give something back to our sport. I am keen to add to the many fulfilling memories and long-lasting friendships that I have and wish to continue to support hockey in any way that I can.